When ​autumn​ ​approaches,​ ​that’s​ ​when​ ​the​ ​craft​ ​festival​ ​season​ ​begins​ ​in​ ​earnest.​ ​Craftproducers​ ​​ celebrates​ ​American​ ​Craft​ ​Week​ ​in​ ​Vermont​ ​with​ ​​ 41st^{​ ​​}​ ​Annual​ Stowe Foliage Arts ​Festival​. ​The show​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ October 11-13 ​at Topnotch Field on the Mountain Road, Route 108, in Stowe, Vermont. It’s a rain or shine event: several large heated tents will house all the exhibits.

According​ ​to​ ​organizers​ ​of​ ​American​ ​Craft​ ​Week,​ ​“While​ ​other​ ​industry​ ​associations​ ​have​ ​long​ ​touted their ​ ​products,​ ​the​ ​craft​ ​industry​ ​has​ ​lacked​ ​a​ ​single​ ​way​ ​to​ ​be​ ​highly​ ​visible.​ ​Crafts​ ​enrich​ ​our​ ​homes,​ ​wardrobes,​ ​offices​ ​and​ ​public​ ​spaces.​ ​​ ​The crafts industry​ ​contributes​ ​to​ ​our​ ​nation’s​ ​economy​ ​and​ ​the​ ​fabric​ ​of​ ​our​ ​national​ ​history.​ ​Craftwork​ ​is original,​ ​beautiful​ ​and​ ​enduring.” As​ ​one​ ​craft​ ​artist​ ​put​ ​it,​ ​”this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​creative​ economy!” 

The ​ Stowe show​ ​features​ ​175​ ​artists​ ​and​ ​artisans​ ​displaying​ ​and​ ​selling​ ​traditional​ ​and​ ​contemporary crafts ​ ​and​ ​original​ ​art​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​a​ ​specialty​ ​food​ ​section.​ The exhibitors are a fascinating group of people. “Meet the artists! Hear their stories! And buy their work!” says producer, Tim Cianciola. In fact many customers start and finish their holiday gift buying at the show.

​While​ ​craft​ ​shopping,​ ​customers​ ​are​ ​delighted with great food, live music, and Vermont craft beers served by Idletyme Brewery, all inside a heated dining tent.    

Besides​ ​savoring​ ​Vermont​ ​food​ ​and​ ​drink,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​craft​ ​demos.​ ​​Craftproducers​ ​​is​ ​proud​ ​to feature Matt Brown, currently residing in Lyme, NH and New Haven, VT, ​as​ ​one​ ​of​ ​its​ ​demonstrating​ ​exhibitors.  Matt explains, “I have been working the craft of color woodblock printmaking since January, 1993. Spending time with Japanese prints in my home, visiting Japanese prints at the homes of friends and neighbors,  at museums, and through books, was largely how I learned in the early formative years.” Brown uses the hanga method: (Hanga is woodblock printing using water as a medium). Festival-goers can witness Brown at work in his booth, actually creating original pieces.

Also, in the Japanese vein, Vermont potter, Richard Foye brings his mesmerizing Raku demonstration to the Festival. Another demo involving fire will feature Harry Besett, a glassblower from Hardwick, VT. Last but not least, Jeffey Gale, will be hard at work crafting amazing traditional wood baskets, treasured by serious collectors..                   

In a nutshell,​ ​the Stowe Foliage Arts​ ​Festival​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ ​ ​October​ 11-13 ​ ​at Topnotch Field. ​Hours​ ​are​ ​10-5​ ​daily,​ ​Friday​ ​through​ ​Sunday.​ ​Adult​ ​admission​ ​is​ ​$10,​ ​children​ ​are​ ​free.​ ​Rain or​ ​shine-inside​ heated Camelot tents.​ ​​ ​Free​ ​parking.​ ​No​ ​pets. ​ ​Complete​ ​information​ ​is​ ​available​ ​at Craftproducers.com.

CONTACT:​ ​​Tim​ ​Cianciola​ ​802-316-5019 ​or​ ​tim@craftproducers.com

Lynne Puhalla’s connection with nature is evident throughout her work, as many of her pieces incorporate the leaves, vines and flowers that grow in her extensive English-style gardens.

“I love working and experimenting with the use of form, shape and texture,” Lynne shares. “I have always had a passion for weaving and basketry, but when I was exposed to ceramics through friends who were potters, I found that getting my hands into clay was a natural. So rather than choosing between the two mediums, I decided to pursue both.”

Come see Lynne Puhalla’s unique designs at the 31st Annual Manchester Fall Art and Craft Festival, October 4-6 at Riley Rink in Manchester, Vermont.

“I have been making up tales since I was five days old.” – Roycroft Rennaissance Master Artisan Elizabeth Andrews brings delightful humor, dream-like imagination, and impeccable technique to her traditional, hand-pulled etchings. 

Come meet the Artist and learn about her work and what the Roycroft Mark is all about at the 31st Annual Manchester Fall Art and Craft Festival, October 4-6 at Riley Rink in Manchester, VT. 

Thanks to the Wilburton Inn & Restaurant for sponsoring the 31st Annual Manchester Fall Art and Craft Festival, coming up October 4-6 at Riley Rink in Manchester, VT!

The Wilburton Inn & Restaurant is a majestic Manchester Village estate featuring a historic country inn, the Museum of the Creative Process, a retreat center, marble destination wedding venue and nearby organic farm. Dr. Albert Levis, psychiatrist, scholar and Holocaust survivor from Athens, Greece, has run the Wilburton with his family for over 30 years. The Museum promotes a new scientific breakthrough that integrates psychology, mythology, religion and through a new way of looking at art. The Creative Process is the integrative moral paradigm that heals the person and the world.

The Levis family is proud to support the 31st Annual Manchester Fall Art and Craft Festival.

We welcome artists and art lovers to our booth at the craft show and to discover the Museum of the Creative Process and Wilburton Inn at 257 Wilburton Drive Manchester VT. 802-362-2500.

www.WilburtonInn.com
www.MuseumoftheCreativeProcess.com

Bennington Museum will offer free admission to attendees of the Southern Vermont Art and Craft Festival on August 2, 3, and 4 with the presentation of a Festival pass!

Now on view at the Bennington Museum:

Fields of Change: 1960s Vermont 

Color Fields: 1960s Bennington Modernism

Through November 3 – Fields of Change: 1960s Vermont explores a complex time that has come to define Vermont as it is today. The 1960s were a decade of dramatic, paradigmatic shifts in the social, political, and cultural identity of Vermont.

Through December 30 – Color Fields: 1960s Bennington Modernism explores the time when Bennington College served as a rural epicenter for artists who were pushing the possibilities of abstraction in pared-down, color-based works that have come to be known collectively as Color Field. Among the artists are Anthony Caro, Paul Feeley, Helen Frankenthaler, Ruth Ann Fredenthal, Kenneth Noland, and Jules Olitski.

Come to the Southern Vermont Art and Craft Festival at Camelot Village Craft Center, then take your ticket to the Bennington Museum for free admission!